O.K. Corral Historian Tells How the West Was

When it comes to images of the wild west, nothing beats a handlebar-sporting Kurt Russell striding down the dusty streets of Tombstone at high noon on his way to kick some major Dalton or Clanton (or whatever the name of that gang was) ass.

But author Jeff Guinn, in his new book The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral--and How it Changed the American West, paints a less heroic picture of Earp--namely, that Earp was a thief in his early life and was a fugitive for the rest of it. He also might have accidentally shot and seriously wounded his brother Morgan by accident during the infamous gunfight--no biggie.

Guinn, who will be at Murder by The Book tonight promote the revisionist work, has even gone so far as to diminish our preconceived notions of Tombstone as a one-horse town made of clapboard houses and tumbleweeds--the reality, he claims, is that it was a sophisticated city.

History lovers, mystery lovers and historical-mystery lovers have can hear Guinn talk about the work at 6:30 tonight at Murder By The Book, 2342 Bissonnet St. For more information, visit www.murderbooks.com or call 713-524-8597.